Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
This is my WyldHeart beta gameplay first impressions and review-in-progress after backing the game on Kickstarter. I went in expecting another rough Kickstarter RPG beta, and while WyldHeart definitely has issues, it also surprised me more than I expected.
The biggest strength so far is the feeling of a tabletop-inspired fantasy RPG dungeon crawl. WyldHeart captures a lot of that D&D style dungeon delving energy. Poking around dark rooms, checking for traps, solving small puzzles, managing gear, finding strange lore, and slowly piecing together what is going on with the chalice, Elderlight, Saint Alwin, and the Twilight King. I also think this is probably going to shine more in co-op, where the bickering, exploring, and problem-solving with friends could carry a lot of the rougher edges.
That said, this beta still needs work. The UI and inventory management were the biggest pain points for me. Trading has a cool barter-style idea behind it, but the actual interface is tedious, especially when you are dealing with copper one piece at a time. Gear management also needs better comparison tooltips so you can clearly see how equipment changes your stats without doing the math yourself. I also wanted more inventory space almost immediately.
There were other rough beta issues too: some hitbox weirdness, control choices that did not make much sense to me, sprinting that burns way too much stamina, no obvious key rebinding, awkward reading flow in some of the quest text, and audio that felt stronger at the start than it did later on. I liked the menu music, but I do think the game would benefit from some basic voice acting for important quest givers. Graphically, WyldHeart has a distinct style, but it is not exactly a showcase visually, and I would like to see more biome variety and stronger dungeon aesthetics as development continues.
Even with all of that, I had fun. The beta was smoother than I expected for a game that recently came through Kickstarter, and there is a solid foundation here. I like the large skill trees, the charming hex-grid overworld map, the fact that the game does not hold your hand too much, and the overall atmosphere. The writing and story still need to prove themselves, especially because I care a lot about story in RPGs, but the setup gave me enough questions that I want to keep playing.
My early verdict: WyldHeart is promising, rough, and worth watching. It is not a full recommendation yet because the final price, amount of content, story quality, and beta improvements will matter a lot. If the team improves the UI, inventory, controls, trading flow, stamina feel, audio, and overall polish, this could turn into a really enjoyable D&D-inspired dungeon crawler RPG.
Beta footage note: this is not the final version of the game. Bugs, balance issues, missing polish, and unfinished systems are expected.
#WyldHeart #RPG #IndieGames #DungeonCrawler #KickstarterGames #DnD #BetaGameplay #FirstImpressions #PCGaming #FantasyRPG #shadowsthoughts
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🕹️ store.steampowered.com/app/3642910/Wyldheart
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00:00 I should know better — Kickstarter backer regret
00:58 WyldHeart beta intro and disclaimer
01:59 Settings, accessibility, and first feedback
03:47 Character creation begins
05:12 Backgrounds, starting roles, and choosing Outlaw
06:36 Character customization
12:26 A Hopeless Endeavour quest begins
14:09 Inventory, gear, and torch mechanics
20:22 Inventory pain starts early
25:07 Skill trees and build potential
28:29 Perception, traps, and hidden objects
30:03 Combat, shields, and dungeon hazards
32:24 Skull puzzle and ritual room confusion
40:14 Corrupted ogre fight
46:20 Finding the Sludge Slayer
50:47 Solving the petrified ooze puzzle
59:26 Merrick, the chalice, and the first big lore hook
01:01:50 Leaving the dungeon and making camp
01:08:18 Overworld travel risk and the hex map
01:10:00 Shepherd’s Sanctuary and early exploration
01:14:10 Elderlight, town quests, and the tollhouse
01:22:47 The Lantern inn and trading frustrations
01:27:49 Spending skill points
01:30:57 Taking the chalice to Brother Oswin
01:34:00 Saint Alwin, the Twilight King, and deeper lore
01:41:57 Rogue tools, lockpicking, and entering the well
01:46:52 Final thoughts begin
01:48:55 UI, inventory, and gear feedback
01:52:09 Atmosphere, skill trees, and early verdict
01:53:50 Wrap-up
This is my WyldHeart beta gameplay first impressions and review-in-progress after backing the game on Kickstarter. I went in expecting another rough Kickstarter RPG beta, and while WyldHeart definitely has issues, it also surprised me more than I expected.
The biggest strength so far is the feeling of a tabletop-inspired fantasy RPG dungeon crawl. WyldHeart captures a lot of that D&D style dungeon delving energy. Poking around dark rooms, checking for traps, solving small puzzles, managing gear, finding strange lore, and slowly piecing together what is going on with the chalice, Elderlight, Saint Alwin, and the Twilight King. I also think this is probably going to shine more in co-op, where the bickering, exploring, and problem-solving with friends could carry a lot of the rougher edges.
That said, this beta still needs work. The UI and inventory management were the biggest pain points for me. Trading has a cool barter-style idea behind it, but the actual interface is tedious, especially when you are dealing with copper one piece at a time. Gear management also needs better comparison tooltips so you can clearly see how equipment changes your stats without doing the math yourself. I also wanted more inventory space almost immediately.
There were other rough beta issues too: some hitbox weirdness, control choices that did not make much sense to me, sprinting that burns way too much stamina, no obvious key rebinding, awkward reading flow in some of the quest text, and audio that felt stronger at the start than it did later on. I liked the menu music, but I do think the game would benefit from some basic voice acting for important quest givers. Graphically, WyldHeart has a distinct style, but it is not exactly a showcase visually, and I would like to see more biome variety and stronger dungeon aesthetics as development continues.
Even with all of that, I had fun. The beta was smoother than I expected for a game that recently came through Kickstarter, and there is a solid foundation here. I like the large skill trees, the charming hex-grid overworld map, the fact that the game does not hold your hand too much, and the overall atmosphere. The writing and story still need to prove themselves, especially because I care a lot about story in RPGs, but the setup gave me enough questions that I want to keep playing.
My early verdict: WyldHeart is promising, rough, and worth watching. It is not a full recommendation yet because the final price, amount of content, story quality, and beta improvements will matter a lot. If the team improves the UI, inventory, controls, trading flow, stamina feel, audio, and overall polish, this could turn into a really enjoyable D&D-inspired dungeon crawler RPG.
Beta footage note: this is not the final version of the game. Bugs, balance issues, missing polish, and unfinished systems are expected.
#WyldHeart #RPG #IndieGames #DungeonCrawler #KickstarterGames #DnD #BetaGameplay #FirstImpressions #PCGaming #FantasyRPG #shadowsthoughts
👍 Don't forget to Like, Sub and Share! Thank you.
🕹️ store.steampowered.com/app/3642910/Wyldheart
If there's a game you'd like me to check out, feel free to contact me below.
MasterGamingVR@Gmail.com
discord.gg/rmc8YFX
twitch.tv/shadowsthoughts
twitter.com/mastergamingvr
youtube.com/c/MasterGamingVR/join
patreon.com/MasterGamingVR
Sign up for a free Audible Subscription and get 2 free books!
📚 amzn.to/2E2yGyz
Index bundle
🥽 amzn.to/4cGdf4o
00:00 I should know better — Kickstarter backer regret
00:58 WyldHeart beta intro and disclaimer
01:59 Settings, accessibility, and first feedback
03:47 Character creation begins
05:12 Backgrounds, starting roles, and choosing Outlaw
06:36 Character customization
12:26 A Hopeless Endeavour quest begins
14:09 Inventory, gear, and torch mechanics
20:22 Inventory pain starts early
25:07 Skill trees and build potential
28:29 Perception, traps, and hidden objects
30:03 Combat, shields, and dungeon hazards
32:24 Skull puzzle and ritual room confusion
40:14 Corrupted ogre fight
46:20 Finding the Sludge Slayer
50:47 Solving the petrified ooze puzzle
59:26 Merrick, the chalice, and the first big lore hook
01:01:50 Leaving the dungeon and making camp
01:08:18 Overworld travel risk and the hex map
01:10:00 Shepherd’s Sanctuary and early exploration
01:14:10 Elderlight, town quests, and the tollhouse
01:22:47 The Lantern inn and trading frustrations
01:27:49 Spending skill points
01:30:57 Taking the chalice to Brother Oswin
01:34:00 Saint Alwin, the Twilight King, and deeper lore
01:41:57 Rogue tools, lockpicking, and entering the well
01:46:52 Final thoughts begin
01:48:55 UI, inventory, and gear feedback
01:52:09 Atmosphere, skill trees, and early verdict
01:53:50 Wrap-up
